Poker is a card game where players bet into the middle (pot) to make a hand. Each player has two cards dealt face up and the dealer places a third card on the table. The highest hand wins the pot.

To be successful in poker, it’s important to understand how to play the game and when to bluff or value bet. The more hands you play, the better you will become. However, it’s also important to develop good instincts and not just memorize and apply tricky systems. This is why it’s best to observe experienced players and imagine how you would react in the same situation.

A full house is 3 matching cards of the same rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A flush is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight is five cards of consecutive rank but from more than one suit. Three of a kind is three cards of the same rank, such as three jacks or three sixes. A pair is two cards of the same rank, such as two kings or two queens.

When betting comes around to you, say “call” if you want to raise the bet that the person in front of you made. If you can’t call, then just fold your hand. Otherwise, keep raising your bets until everyone else has folded. This is called the showdown.